A group of Russian biologists and physicists led by Professor Viktor Timoshenko of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI have used silicon nanoparticles to illuminate and destroy cancerous tumors using ultrasound.
Recently, the results of research scientists have been published in a specialized publication. The main feature of the method is that healthy cells are not damaged.
According to Andrei Sviridov from Lomonosov Moscow State University, scientists have selected a partial load mode in order to provide a therapeutic effect on cancer cells. In this case, there is no mass rupture of them. The impact is mainly reduced to the destruction of intracellular organelles by nanoparticles. He also noted that by coating the particles with biopolymer, the acoustic properties of the particles are not impaired, but a better therapeutic effect is provided.
Chemists, physicists and specialists in the field of nanotechnology have recently been developing new surgical and therapeutic methods, the use of which is not accompanied by damage to organs and tissues. So, in particular, they managed to create nanoparticles that penetrate into the tumor and are heated with a laser. This destroys cancer without damaging healthy cells. The same effect can be achieved with the use of special medications that prevent the growth of vascular tumors in the body, as well as gene therapy. These methods starve the cancer cells.
Sviridov and his colleagues managed to create special silicon nanoparticles that can be used to study cancerous tumors and destroy them using ultrasound.
The main problem with these cancer treatments is that nanoparticles and ultrasound often act indiscriminately, destroying not only the tumor, but also damaging healthy cells. In addition, nanoparticles dissolve in the body too quickly.
Sviridov, Timoshenko and their colleagues managed to solve this problem by covering with a layer of biopolymer from dextrose molecules - dextran, nanoparticles from porous silicon. According to biologists, such particles dissolve in the body much more slowly. In addition, they glow under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, which makes it possible to use them to illuminate samples of cells and tumors that are being investigated.
In the course of the study, cancer cells obtained from a laryngeal tumor were separately exposed to ultrasound and nanoparticles. The experiment showed that the use of ultrasound alone has no effect on cancer cells. In the case of using ultrasound together with nanoparticles, it kills these cells, destroying the organelles of cancer cells, in particular, mitochondria.
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In addition to enhancing the action of ultrasound, nanoparticles can also be used to transport molecules and drugs into cancer and healthy cells. By heating with radio waves or ultrasound, therapeutic molecules become more mobile, and this, in turn, increases their effectiveness.
These methods must undergo many clinical trials in animals and volunteers over several years. But, as you know, experiments of this kind do not always end successfully.
